Peo throws support behind striking Turkish Cypriot Pepsi workers

Trade union Peo on Friday offered its support to the striking workers at Ektam, the north’s producer of Pepsi and other soft drinks, paying a visit to the picket line outside the factory as the strike enters its fourth week.

Peo secretary-general Sotiroula Charalambous said after her visit that “the fight at Ektam does not only concern specific workers, but touches the entire working class, as it is related to fundamental trade union rights and the protection of human dignity at work”.

Workers had initially downed tools on February 6, claiming that the company had attempted to deprive them of their right to unionise, with the company then hitting back and threatening to fire 39 workers in response.

The workers had attempted to join a union affiliated with Dev-Is, and a spokesperson for that union had earlier told the Cyprus Mail that the company had been “ignoring the laws” relating to organised labour in the north.

The spokesperson said that the company’s management had then “threatened everyone and attempted to force them to sign resignation letters”.

The workers then refused, with the spokesperson saying that the company’s management had subsequently threatened to close down the factory entirely and lay every single worker off.

Later, the Turkish Cypriot authorities attempted to convene a meeting between the striking workers and representatives of Ektam, as well as representatives of international food and beverage corporation PepsiCo’s Turkish subsidiary.

However, the representatives of PepsiCo and Ektamrefused to enter the meeting, with the Cyprus Mail being informed at the time that the representatives of the two companies wished to meet “directly” with the striking workers with no trade union presence.